We Love Our Teachers

  •   Mon, Aug 31 2026
  •   By Fr Richard Mascarenhas SJ

August 31, 2026

September 5 is "Teachers' Day". All of us, whether we are now students or not, joyfully and gratefully remember our own teachers and other teachers all over our country. Even from a young age, every child seems to be attracted or frightened by one or more of their teachers at home or school. There are many kinds of teachers – some are for their students, some just wait for the salary, some for the tuition at home, some for the students in and outside the campus. Here come the teachers with differences who teach us to discover the real being inside each of us. Hence the day becomes not just “Teachers’ Day” but “Teach us Day.”

Learning is an important aspect of an intelligent being. Without this aspect there can be no intelligent and intellectual life. Correspondingly, there should be another intelligent being from whom we learn. In this way, our entire upbringing is based on the mutual relationship between learning and teaching. This has become almost a must in our daily set–up. In Sanskrit, the meaning of the word teacher means “guru”. Here “gu” is “one who dispels” and “ru” means “darkness”. Hence, guru or teacher means - one who dispels darkness.  Everyone who wishes to rise above their nature requires a teacher. Come September, you can find students preparing to facilitate and thank their teachers and celebrate the memorable “Teachers’ Day.”  

While we are small, we learn from our parents. Then they relegate a major part of their task of teaching to the teachers. How we now recall to mind the first few days at school! Some of us might have gone to school out of compulsion. What is it that was frightful in the school that gave us a dislike for it? The appearance of the teacher, who unlike my parents, demanded strict discipline from the students? Was my dislike for the school rooted on the subjects he/she taught? And how little I understood that he/she had to teach all these subjects. Teachers have not just to teach, but form the young into polished ladies and gentlemen. This is indeed a very difficult task. They have to guide, correct and direct their ward who is often energetic little ruffians. Through their own life and loving relationship with their students, they form them into good future citizens. Without the teachers' share in our formation, the entire nation would be at a great loss.

The idea of celebrating Teachers’ Day took ground independently in many countries during the 20th century; in most cases, they celebrate a local educator or an important milestone in education (for example, Argentina commemorates Domingo Faustino Sarmiento’s death on September 11 since 1915, while India celebrates Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday on September 5 since 1962). These two factors explain why almost all countries celebrate this day though on different days, unlike many other special days of international celebration.  

In return for this noble work, what is their recompense? Till recently the teacher's salary was lower than that of other professions. Naturally those who could not get better jobs joined service as teachers. Naturally there was no element of dedication in his work. But now things seem to be slightly better. The Nation itself has much to gain if the best talents within the country are attracted to this noble profession of forming its citizens. At times a teacher comes into conflict with the parents of their students. Parents have high demands of the teachers, especially when they cannot give their own attention and time to their sons and daughters. The teacher endures this as an occupational hazard. The parents must fully cooperate with the teachers.

Today with the gesture of gratefulness comes also the expectations. Teachers in different branches of study do require a certain amount of professionalism and expertise. Some of the expected qualities in a teacher are:

  1. They should be able to obey authority before commanding the pupils.
  2. Should possess refined professional personality.
  3. Be an inspirer and a fashioner of human destiny and dream molder.
  4. Should have academic requirements and life experience.
  5. Be a free person to interpret culture and confront authority and power for the betterment of the society.
  6. Should express opinions without fear and malice.
  7. Encourage the students to engage in critical thinking and pursuit of truth. 
  8. A constant need to search for more should be a teacher’s mentality.
  9. From self – examination to social examination, a teacher strives for transformation.
  10. Above all in today’s context, a teacher should not fail to make his or students to be the men and women for and with others.

It is good to recall here that the teaching profession has been the oldest and noblest profession on record. It may not be monetarily rewarding but a guru (teacher) always draws satisfaction and jumps with joy when the shishya (student) excels in life. Even before formal and standardized institutions for imparting of knowledge, parents did start that noble work. Caretakers of children are actually the first teachers themselves. More than a profession, it’s a vocation – a call to serve life.

Finally, we all salute our teachers on this day. We express, in unison, our gratitude for their selfless service not only to us individuals, but to the entire nation. Only the Lord can bless their efforts sufficiently. Yet we shall try to appreciate what they have done for us to be what we are today. May God shower upon them His choicest blessings all through their lives?

Long live our dear teachers!

 

 

 

 

 
By Fr Richard Mascarenhas SJ
Fr Richard Mascarenhas SJ is a Jesuit priest from Karnataka Jesuit province. Currently he is on the staff of Dhyanashrama Retreat Centre – Mt St Joseph, Bangalore – 560 076. frrichiesj@gmail.com
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Comment on this article

  • Oliver Norman Sutari, Kuthyar

    Mon, Aug 31 2026

    Very true! There is no nobler profession than one of a teacher. Your article is a great reminder of a teacher's worth.


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